Nigel's Photo Blog

 Introduction This evening, I am posting information on the Abbey Strand and Sanctuary which are close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland.   Information on Abbey Strand and Sanctuary . The 16th century Abbey Sanctuary buildings are often overlooked by the many thousands of visitors who are focused on the nearby Royal Palace and Scottish Parliament. The buildings formed part of a residence for aristocratic debtors up until 1880 when imprisonment for unpaid debt was abolished.The occupants were known as ‘Abbey Lairds’ and were able to live under effective house arrest within the confines of a designated sanctuary area which included Holyrood Park, a few minutes away, and Arthur’s Seat , also close by. The occupants were safe from arrest provided they stayed within the designated sanctuary area. However, they were at liberty to stray outside the designated sanctuary area on Sundays only. The western section of the buildings ha

Introduction  This evening, I am focusing on Glen Lyon, a stunning 34 mile (55 km) long enclosed valley in Perthshire, Central Scotland. The road follows the line of the River Lyon and starts from  Fortingall on the north side of Loch Tay , skirting north of Ben Lawers (mountain) and ending in  Killin  at the southern end of Loch Tay.  Glen Lyon, Scotland. y  Information on the Tour Video clip of Glen Lyon scenery.  Whilst views are superb, the road surface is less so, comprising mainly single track which progressively deteriorates into little more than a farm track with deep ruts and potholes and thus wholly unsuitable for small cars. Glen Lyon, Scotland The road passes through Invervar, Camusvrachan, Innerwick, Bridge of Balgie, Gallin, Stronuich Reservoir, Cashlie, Kenknock, Glen Lochay and the Moirlanich Longhouse before arriving at Killin. A tour for the determined which can be rewarding with sightings of deer and other wildlife. This landscape offers good opportuniti

Introduction  This post reprises a one-day tour of London, England.  Tour Boat on Thames Information on the tour. This morning, we departed our hotel near Tottenham Court Road and walked towards the embankment on the River Thames. En-route we passed theatres, Chinatown, St Martin-in-the Fields and Trafalgar Square . At latter we came to a halt due to obstruction caused by the Vitality 10k road race. Eventually, we managed avoid the runners using an underpass and then on to our destination to connect with a tour boat China Town, London. Vitality 10K Run Once on the Thames, and benefiting from bright sunshine, we were able to view a variety of sites and architecture on  the way to Greenwich including the Tower of London , Charing Cross Rail Station and Tower Bridge . On arrival at Greenwich we spent about 1 hour at this World Heritage Site and then returned via a stop at the Tower of London close to which can be seen the remains of a city wall built by the Romans around A

  During the past 24 hours various media outlets have carried reports on the origin of the famous 'Altar Stone' at Stonehenge. The six-tonne sandstone slab lies recumbent at centre of the famous monument and is not easily visible because it is pinned under two larger sarsen stones. Hitherto, experts have agreed that the entire complement of stones at the site originate from (a) a local quarry just 15 miles away and (b) South Wales. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it had been assumed that the Altar Stone had also been transported from South Wales. However, new laser analysis of mineral grains has determined that the Altar Stone originated from a geological formation in the far north of Scotland, at least 435 miles away. This new finding adds a completely new dimension to the Stonehenge story, viz: It now transpires that the structure comprises stones from all parts of mainland GB (England, Scotland and Wales); Logistics expertise in transporting the stones over cons

 Introduction This post reprises a one-day tour centred on one couple's Cunningham ancestry., I collected guests from Glasgow Airport and proceeded on a tour sites in East Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Scotland .  Replica Viking ship at Largs Information on the tour Our initial target had been Kilbarchan Parish church but this proved not accessible due to construction work. However, after consulting with a local contact the search led to nearby Kilbarchan Old Parish Church which dates from 1724 and is now closed. There are remains of an even older chapel on the same site. Kilbarchan Old Parish Church In course of the ancestry quest we also visited Cunninghamhead and Kilmaurs Parish Church.  At Cunninghamhead. Kilmaurs Parish Church Kilbarchan. In context of local sightseeing we visited: The coastal town of Largs which boasts a marina (yacht haven) and Viking era visitor attraction. In 1263 there was a naval engagement between Norwegian (Viking) forces and Scots the ult

This morning, my wife and myself had an unexpected encounter with the The Durham Regional Police Pipes & Drums from Ontario, Canada who were performing in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland.  

   This afternoon, my wife and I availed of the opportunity to visit a local allotment (Glasgow Southside) consequent on the holders inviting in the public by way of an 'open day'. For benefit of readers outside the U.K. allotments are, typically, about one acre plots of land subdivided into into strip/blocks which are allocated to local interested persons for the purpose of growing vegetables and other crops such as flowers. Allotments are usually found near urban areas where residents of houses and flats (with minimal or no back yard) can connect with nature by growing their own vegetables and in so doing link with like minded persons on the same allotment. In the case illustrated, the entire block of land was once (in the 19th century) the kitchen garden of a local mansion which became derelict. About ten years ago, members of the local community, in conjunction with the local Council which owns the land, managed to resurrect the garden by way of the allotment m

  This afternoon I am reporting on a tour the interior of this famous church which is also known as the ‘Baptist Cathedral of Europe’. Key facts: Commissioned by the wealthy Coats textile family and opened in 1894. Gothic design by Hippolyte Blanc of Edinburgh. Can accommodate up to 1000 people. Ground plan in shape of cross. Vestibule contains 350,000 pieces of coloured marble to make up mosaic floor. Pulpit made from marble and alabaster. Finely carved communion table. Baptistry made from black-veined marble. In the chancel are three carved alabaster panels. Overall, a truly stunning piece of design and craftsmanship. Location is Paisley , West of Scotland. In light of a dwindling congregation and significant ongoing maintenance costs, the final church service took place in August 2018. Unfortunately, the building is in need of considerable funds for repairs and maintenance. The building is managed by the Coats Memorial Preservation Trust, and hosts weddings, proms and graduat

Introduction This evening, I am focusing on one of Scotland’s more obscure castles, namely Kerelaw which is a ruin located in the midst of a social housing estate in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, a town which boasts a history dating back to the 13th century. Actual location of the castle is not easy to find, especially as there is no signage. Information on Kerelaw Castle Kerelaw Castle was built in the 12th century and was first held by the Lockharts. The town is, in fact, named after Stephan Loccard or Lockhart. The castle subsequently passed to the Campbells of Loudon and then to the Cunninghames of Kilmaurs. Its current ruinous state dates to 1488 when (during Cunninghame possession) it was burned by the Earl of Eglinton (Montgomerys) in context of a long running feud. In revenge the Cunninghames burned Eglinton Castle just a few miles away. As will be evident form the images below, the ruins are unsafe and have been fenced off. Nearby used to be situated a large house/

  Introduction This evening, I am posting information on Skelmorlie Castle which is positioned close to the west coast, north of Largs .  Information on the castle Skelmorlie Castle   stands on the eastern shore of the   Firth of Clyde , Scotland, at the north-western corner of   Ayrshire . This building has close links with the Montgomeries. It dates from 1502 and originally belonged to the Earls of Eglinton. Hugh the third Earl, a devout Catholic, led the Montgomery Clan is support of Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside 1568 but was defeated, taken prisoner and subsequently released in 1571. Many original features of the Castle, e.g.stone fireplace, were discovered after a fire in the 1960s. The Castle’s superb aspect affords views of the Isle of Arran which, by coincidence, was awarded to the 3rd Lord Montgomery after the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. This castle is a private residence and not open to the public. It can be viewed on a ‘drive past’ basis. More

 This evening, I am reporting on five churchyards which were selected with a common theme of links with the Viking era (AD 793-1066) and located within a 20 mile radius of York City . Each of these churches is summarised below. Kirk Hammerton : A relatively intact church dating from end of the Anglo-Saxon era. This was built in Romanesque form and may have utilised (re-cycled) materials from local Roman era buildings. The architecture features round arches and small windows. In its day the interior would have been dark and dingy, aggravated by smokey tallow candles. The tower, which features a double splayed window at the top, may be later than body of the church. A wonderful gem of a church. Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Alne : The key features here are:1.Decorated lintel over small, priests door may date from the Anglo-Saxon or Viking eras.2.External archway over main entrance dates from mid 12th C. A complicated and literate work made during a settled period. Carvin

  This afternoon, I am posting an image of a nesting swallow which my wife spotted. The nest was located in the roof of the Chillingham Cattle Visitor Centre in Northumberland, N.E. England. Here is information on swallows as sourced from Britain's RSPB (bird charity):   Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, red throats, pale underparts and long tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time in the air. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter. Swallow numbers in the UK have fluctuated over the last 30 years with strong regional variation in trends.